The Eastside could see a lot more cougars in its future as Bellevue College and Washington State University officials are exploring the possibility of a partnership between the two schools.

In an effort to meet the increasing financial needs of the college’s rapidly growing enrollment, Bellevue College’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to authorize the school’s president, David L. Rule, to explore potential financial partnerships, including Washington State University.

Rule told the Reporter he and his staff were approached by WSU president Elson S. Floyd in November, when he pitched the idea of a potential union of the two colleges.

“It’s a very logical conversation,” Rule said. “We’re still the community’s college. But we need to find out if the grass is actually greener on the other side.”

Floyd said there’s been ongoing conversations within in the higher education sector in the state to find affordable four-year degree programs. With the increasing student population and enrollment in Bellevue College, its infrastructure and growth potential, the school was an ideal target.

“We’re trying to figure out how the two and four year programs can work for students,” Floyd said of his initial conversations with Rule. “We’re just beginning to explore ways in which the two institutions can work in a very collaborate way.”

If any joint venture is to be developed, whether it be to emerge as a combination two-year and four-year university or some kind of hybrid college, Rule said the campus will still have open enrollment as well as low-cost tuition and continue to offer adult basic education, English as a second language and other low-cost classes focused on helping people better their education.

“My role is to maintain those in these conversations while enhancing our student’s opportunities,” Rule said. “We want to offer as many pathways as possible for people to achieve their academic goals.”

Floyd echoed Rule’s sentiment stating new opportunities for students are paramount as these conversations continue.

For years Bellevue College has served as a “feeder” school to the state’s four-year universities. In the last year 392 students were accepted to University of Washington’s main campus, 200 were accepted to its Bothell campus and 309 graduates were accepted to attend Washington State University in Pullman.

While the conversation has just started, Rule was optimistic about the potential partnership and the college’s future, he said.

Other potential solutions Rule and his staff are exploring is whether the school could become a standalone university or continue as is within the community college structure. The latter option seems unlikely as the school’s need to grow has not kept up with state funding.

Over the course of the next several months, both president’s teams will identify ways in which they think will provide the optimal partnership opportunities, Floyd said.

As the conversations continue, Rule’s team will simultaneously investigate the potential of building on-campus housing for students and a possible overhaul of its sports facilities.

During last week’s meeting Spectrum Solutions unveiled its preliminary student housing feasibility study.

If school officials decide to pursue the proposed 145,000 square foot, $44.2 million project, would include 350 beds divided up into an “apartment style” housing development of single rooms as well as two- and four-bedroom units.

Each would come fully furnished with rental rates of about $900 a month, which would include all of the tenants utilities, according to the proposal.

Of the three sites examined for the proposed housing facility, Spectrum Solutions’ Hal Ferris told the board the land near the school’s baseball field was by far the best because it already had the infrastructure for water, sewer and electricity. Currently a parking lot, the loss of spaces would be “minimal” compared to other sites owned by the college, Rule said.

Ferris said the school could make roughly $400,000 annually from the rents beyond its operating services and debt.

The board was also presented with several options for a new 158,000 square-foot soccer and softball field along with a 14,019 square-foot field house.

Projected at roughly $12 million, the new facility, which would be built below the school’s baseball field, could feature indoor batting cages, golf simulators, meeting rooms, classrooms, concessions, box office and the ability for rooftop seating.

Board members said they needed time to speak with students, the school’s foundation and Bellevue officials to determine the level of interest and whether the costs could be met for both projects.

If WSU and Bellevue College do form a partnership, it could serve as a large financial source to help pay for both.